Aikido Glossary

General Terms

Ai – to unify
Aikido – The Way of Unity with the Ki of the Universe
Aite – partner
Bokken –  wooden sword
Bo – long staff
Budo – the way to “stop the fight”.
Chinkon Kishin No Ho – to calm the mind and return to center
Dan – black belt rank
Deshi – student or pupil
Dojo – “place of the way”
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita – “thank you very much”
Gi – training uniform
Hakama – pleated pant-skirt worn by yudanshya
Hara – center of abdomen
Kami – spirit or divine
Keiko – training
Ki – vital life energy
Ki-ai – the focus and/or release of power through a shout
Ki Musubi – tied together by ki
Kokyu – breath
Kotodama – the spiritual power of sound
Ku – emptiness
Kyu – rank
Obi – belt
Ma-ai – distance between nage and uke
Makoto – sincerity
Misogi – purification of body, mind, and spirit
Monjin – one who enters the gate
Onegaeshimasu – “please train with me”
O Sensei – Great Teacher
Rei – bow
Reigi – proper etiquette or formality
Renshu – practice through repetition
Shugyo – spiritual/austere training
Satori – enlightenment
Seiza – seated on knees
Sensei – teacher (lit. born before)
Seishin – spirit or attitude
Shihan – master teacher with 6th dan or above
Shikko – knee walking
Shomen – front position of dojo
Suburi – single movement using sword or staff
Suki – opening or gap
Tanto – wooden dagger
Tanren – forging the body and mind
Tegatana – hand blade
Ueshiba Morihei – Founder of Aikido
Ukemi – the art of receiving
Waza – forms
Yudanshya – holder of black belt rank
Zanshin – unbroken concentration

Aikido Waza

Ikkyo – first teaching
Nikyo – second teaching
Sankyo – third teaching
Yonkyo – fourth teaching
Gokyo – fifth teaching
Irimi Nage – entering throw
Juji Nage – cross arm throw
Kaiten Nage – revolving throw
Kokyu Nage – breath throw
Kokyu Ho – breath exercise
Koshi Nage – hip throw
Kotegaeshi – wrist turn out
Shiho Nage – four direction throw
Sumi Otoshi – corner drop
Tenchi Nage – heaven and earth throw

 

Stance & Movement

Kamae – stance
Hanmi – triangular stance
Ai Hanmi – same stance
Gyaku Hanmi – opposite stance
Shizen Tai – natural body stance
Irimi – entering
Tenkan – turning
Omote – to the front
Ura – to the rear

Aikido Grabs, Holds, & Strikes

Shomen Uchi – strike to front of head
Yokomen Uchi – strike to side of head
Tsuki – thrust or punch
Hiji Tori – elbow grab
Kata Tori – shoulder grab
Katate Tori – wrist grab
Kubi Shime – choke hold
Morote Tori – grab with both hands
Ryokata Tori – grabbing both shoulders
Ryote Tori – grabbing both wrists
Ushiro Kubi Shime – choke hold from behind
Ushiro Ryokata Tori – grabbing shoulders from rear
Ushiro Ryote Tori – grabbing wrists from rear

Types of Practice

Kihon Waza – basic practice
Suwari Waza – seated practice
Tachi Waza – standing practice
Ushiro Waza – forms applied from rear attack
Hanmi Handachi – nage seated, uke standing
Ki No Nagare – flowing ki practice
Osae Waza – pinning technique
Jiyu Waza – freestyle practice
Kaeshi Waza – reversal techniques
Randori – freestyle practice with multiple uke
Buki Tori – taking away weapons